Debuting Books

If you’re a creator with a book or similar project launching/making its festival debut at 2014’s Thought Bubble, then we’d love to hear from you!

Please get in touch via email and we’ll put the information on this page.

2013’s Thought Bubble convention saw over 90 books making their debut, and we’d really like to see even more for this year!

Send us a brief (100 words) blurb, and a link to any web presences for the work, and we’ll help promote it ahead of the show!

7string Volume 2

Author/s: Nich Angell (New Dock Hall)

Pages/format/price: 80 pages / perfect bound softcover / £10

When a great tragedy befalls Zachary Briarpatch at the hands of the would-be dictator Lars Troubleclef, he vows revenge and embarks on a world-spanning quest with his one-of-a-kind guitar sword, the 7STRING.

But Zach isn’t the only one in trouble. As the musical world of Melodia descends into all out war Zach must learn where music truly comes from to team up and fight a truly colossal evil.

Alien in the Outfield – Issue Two

Author/s: Jack Kirby and Mat Barnett (TB Teepee)

Pages/format/price: 32 / US comic softcover / £3

Alien in the Outfield is a new four-part all-ages extra-terrestrial sports adventure comic book from writer Jack RB Kirby and artist Mat Barnett. When a pre-teen alien with anger management issues finds himself stranded in 1980s New Mexico, he discovers friendship, family and rad new skills amongst the mistfits of a struggling little league baseball team.

Amelia Cole and the Enemy Unleashed

Amelia is now the Protector of the once Unknown World and must face the evil that has been draining it of magic and hope. Meanwhile Omega Company, on its last legs, battles the monstrous minions of the Enemy.

This is the third collection of the Amelia Cole series. All three trades will be available at Thought Bubble.

The Art of Running

Author: Matthew Crehan (New Dock Hall)

Pages/format/price: 26 pages / full colour / £1.00

The Art of Running tells the story of legendary athlete Steve Prefontaine, from his determined front running, his war with the sport’s governing body and the love between him and his fans. The Art of Running merges the dynamic medium of comics with the high-octane world of athletics to create a truly unique book, as Prefontaine once said:

“A race is a work of art … I like to make people say, ‘I’ve never seen anyone run like that before.’ It’s more than just a race, it’s a style. It’s doing something better than anyone else. It’s being creative.”

Ask Flimsy

Author/s: Rachael Smith (New Dock Hall)

Pages/format/price: 40 pages / soft cover / Limited run of 300 / £5

A blue kitten answers some questions about love, romance, and heartache. Flimsy is a blue kitten who likes red wine and tries her best at everything. In this book she answers questions from real people on the subject of love. Some questions include:

Can you find love online?

Where do broken hearts go?

How do you get over a crush?

Disclaimer: Some of Flimsy’s advice is not very good, but all of it is downright adorable.

Axolotl Issue 2

Author/s: Jack Fallows (New Dock Hall)

Pages/format/price: 28 pages / A5 / £3

Jack Fallows’ most popular and least cheery title Axolotl returns. This time with even more extreme self-loathing in the form of diary comics, biographies, illustrations and reviews that tackle family history, depression, sexuality, love, loss, travel and growing up.

Beast Wagon

Owen Michael Johnson and John Pearson will be bringing a 6 page preview of their “anthropomorphic comic book set in a safari park” to Thought Bubble, including a fold-out A2 map to introduce the world of Beast Wagon.

“One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest with talking animals…and promises an examination of systems and control. This preview is an intense little introduction to the book we’re making. John is an honest artist. We’re pushing each other, creatively, into dark waters.”

Calculus Cat

Author/s: Hunt Emerson (New Dock Hall)

Pages/format/price: 112 pages / A4 paperback / £9.99

Calculus Cat’s home life is locked in an argumentative relationship with his TV, which bedevils him with commercials for Skweeky Weets—the world’s most asinine breakfast cereal. His “job” is no better. He is forced to run though the streets grinning as The Public shout abuse. His world is graphic, black and white, jagged, full in, weird, speedy and loud—everything a comic should be!

Calculus Cat is at last re-published with 20 or so new pages, and a gallery of drawings from 40 other cartoonists including Dave McKean, Gilbert Shelton, John McCrea, Kevin O’Neill, Kate Charlesworth and Rian Hughes.

Capture Creatures #1

Authors: Becky Dreistadt, Frank Gibson (TB Teepee)

Pages/format/Price: Standard US comics format

Becky Dreistadt (ADVENTURE TIME 2014 ANNUAL) and Frank Gibson (THE AMAZING WORLD OF GUMBALL) are two of the most clever and visually arresting creators in the business, and this one of their most ambitious projects ever. From the vivid visuals to the rad story and hilarious, heartwarming moments, you’ll love every second in this world.

If you like titles like POKÉMON or DIGIMON, or just like cool things, this is definitely the comic for you.

Carcass & Slime #2

Continuing from Carcass & Slime #1 Our Hero, Police Officer ‘Elias Fenchurch’ continues to investigate the strange goings on aboard the New London Platform. After being injected with an unknown substance by a mysterious Masked man his strange illness gets worse. Could an Illegal liason with a Feisty Waitress called ‘Shelley Blitzen’ lead to some very strange problems? A story of Love, Betrayal, Fear & Fitting In. All wrapped up in a Genetically Manipulated, Heroic, Super Powered, Freaky package!

Clockwork Watch: Tick Tock IPA #2

A Clockwork automaton falls into a brewery’s fermentation tank, and gains his sentience. Exactly the opposite of what would happen to a human being. He finds himself in a world sick to the core, searching for a miracle.

Tick Tock IPA #2 is a continuation of a story from the Steampunk world of Clockwork Watch. It’s a tale of perseverance and determination against the odds, the fight for freedom, and an alternative history of the Victorian era’s first internationally renowned Indian Pale Ale.

Clockwork Watch is a story told through graphic novels, live events, online, and film.

Cosmic #001

Authors: Erin Keepers and Letty Wilson (Royal Armouries Hall)

Pages/ Format/ Price: 30 pages / full colour / £4

Rinette’s first memories are of waking up in the smoking crater of a massive asteroid impact. She is the product of a collision between an alien and a human, merged together at the point of death to make an entirely new life form. She may have some idea where she comes from, but where is she going? Who is she now? These are questions she’ll have to find the answer to on her own. And she’d better hurry, because there are other forces converging upon her with questions of their own, and they’ll stop at nothing to find the answers.

Cross – A Political Satire Anthology

Ever wanted to stick two fingers up at the establishment? Here at Disconnected Press, we did too. CROSS is 64 pages of comic satire, venom and the occasional robot. CROSS is a collection of short comic stories from some of the UK’s finest creators.

A shot across the bows of the establishment. A call to people across the land to think about who governs us and the decisions they make on our behalf. And a rallying call to get out the vote.

CRUMBS

Author/s: Various, Kingpin Books (TB Teepee)

Pages/format/price: 160 pages, 10.5cm x 14.8cm

Marvel’s Vice-President CB Cebulski once said a remarkable thing:

“Portuguese creators are unique in Europe. They don’t stick to a specific art school like the French, the Spanish or the Italian, to name just a few. Each and every one of the Portuguese artists drink from a rich pool of styles and create their own distinctive one, ranging from the most classical of French ‘bande dessinée’ to the most dynamic alternative manga style, but always with something rare: a true identity.”

Crumbs is a celebration of that unique identity. A celebration of the diverse. Diverse crumbs of fine art. Diverse crumbs of undeniable talent. Not Portuguese talent ‘stricto sensu’. World-class talent in itself.

Curia Regis, Issue 4

Author/s: Robin Hoelzemann (New Dock Hall)

Pages/format/price: 32 full-colour pages / £5

There’s this saying about good intentions…. Maren is no stranger to making the best of a bad situation, so when she is tasked with throwing a lavish ball for the corrupt King Regent, she makes double sure it’ll be a success. Unfortunately for Maren, some of her guests appear to have other ideas. And where have Gideon and Jacques disappeared to, anyways?

The Dead Queen Detectives #3: The Legion Of Substitute Dead Disputed Queen Detectives continues the (mis)adventures of a group of dead royals as they fight crime in their own slightly haphazard way. In this issue we meet Boudica, Mary Stuart, Empress Matilda and Lady Jane Grey as they face their nemisisises, The Dead Queen Detectives. Full of historical facts (may not all be entirely accurate), peril (possibly not all that perilous) and international espionage (well, you know…)

The Dead Queen Detectives #3 is an All Ages book for anyone who ever wondered what kind of van a group of disputed monarchs might drive around in.

Deadly Burlesque

The Bowery, Lower Manhattan, 1980. The New York burlesque scene has faded away, replaced by strip joints, peep shows and porno palaces. One small club of indomitable performers – the Luxury Lounge – still holds out against the tide. The art of burlesque is dying. For one person, it isn’t dying fast enough. As the bodies pile up, so do the suspects – could the killer be desperate club owner Mr Barnett? Cantankerous juggler The Amazing Ralph? Stale stand-up comic Martin Stevens?

A performer can die onstage a thousand times. Offstage, once is enough.

DeoxyriboNucleic Anarchy

A once ordinary town has been turned upside down at the appearance of a creature who calls himself Adenine, tearing families apart and destroying everything in his wake. Many fled, others stayed behind to search for survivors in the hope of finding those they had lost.

Amongst the chaos and confusion a young family stumbles across a poor frightened creature with no idea of her past. She meets another like herself and listens to his story in the hope that she can recall anything about her past.

Doctor Who: The Twelfth Doctor

Author/s: Robbie Morrison and Dave Taylor (New Dock Hall)

Pages/format/price: 22 pages / monthly comic / $3.99

Offering shocks, surprises, and galaxy-shaking revelations, seasoned TARDIS pilot Robbie Morrison (Drowntown, The Authority, 2000AD, Nikolai Dante) and New York Times-bestselling artist Dave Taylor (Batman: Death by Design; 2000AD) mark the start of their first five-issue run by diving headfirst into the console room and pulling all the levers they can – spinning the new Doctor off to his most challenging destination yet!

Dogbreath 29

Cover artist Matt Timson provides the lead strip this issue along with writer And Ewington. The colour centrespread this issue is provided by John Charles and there are new adventures for Flys Eyes Wagner and Wirehead Rex. All for the amazing price of £3.00.

The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath

Author/s: I. N. J. Culbard (New Dock Hall)

Pages/format/price: 144 pages / 165mm x 241mm / £14.99

“Three times Randolph Carter dreamed of the marvellous city, and three times was he snatched away…”

Obsessed with revisiting the sunset city of his dreams, Randolph Carter leaves the humdrum confines of reality behind, travelling into a vivid dreamworld where anything is possible. But while Carter draws closer to his goal – the mysterious Kadath, home to the gods themselves – another force, dark and brooding, is watching with plans of its own. An epic fantasy mixing adventure, peril and wonder in equal parts, The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath explores themes of memory and forbidden knowledge through the prism of H. P. Lovecraft’s boundless imagination.

Endangered and More Strange Stories

All-ages anthology packed with adventure, danger, excitement, gags and things that go bump in the night! Join Tatiana on her first adventure through time with the Endangered squad. Follow the mysterious Outlaw as he takes on corruption in the wild west. Open The Monster Book and visit a haunted castle with a rowdy bunch of youth club kids. And take a pew for a sermon from Father Feathers and Father Olive, the Birds of Pray.

Flash Fiction

Author/s: Bridgeen Gillespie (New Dock Hall)

Pages/format/price: 80 pages/ A5 Soft Cover / £6

‘Flash Fiction’ contains 36 short stories that originally appeared on Elephant Words; Inspired by song lyrics, science fiction, gothic literature, comics and more. This collection of flash fiction and low-fi imagery by Bridgeen Gillespie draws playfully from genre staples and memoir capturing snapshots and diary entries from oft dark worlds that may even be our own.

“All writing is recording, a memory, a feeling remembered. I feel this way about photography too, Life and light fleetingly caught in ‘Flash fiction’.”

The Fuse #7

Author/s: Antony Johnston, Justin Greenwood (New Dock Hall)

Pages / Format / Price: 32 pages / Full Colour / $3.50

22,000 MILES UP, THERE IS (STILL) NO BACKUP.

They call it Gridlocking — maglev-bike races across the Fuse’s vast solar arrays. Fast, dangerous, and very illegal. When a gridlocker turns up dead, Klem and Ralph begin their own race to catch a killer!

Comics Alliance says THE FUSE “Sets a new standard for the genre” — get on board!

The Gee Bees Present: The Grand Tour

From “Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase & Fable.” THE GRAND TOUR ….to finish their son’s education by sending them….on a tour throughout….(EUROPE)….sometimes a couple of years or more were devoted to it. The young men were supposed to study the history, language and so forth of each country they visited. Each travel was a distinguishing mark….

The Gee Bees Presents: THE GRAND TOUR Follow our heroes Gideon Black, factotum of The Foundation, and his assistant Katrina as they journey the world and history. Encountering namesakes and counterparts and always, always standing against Maximilian and his grotesques.

Collecting the first story from the web comic and including exclusive, bonus prose story and pin-ups never seen before

Gonzo Cosmic #2

Gonzo Cosmic launched at the beginning of 2014 to great reviews and feedback and has recently become available on Comixology Submit.

Issue 2 continues the story of Andel Novak and his hijacked crew, revealing what becomes of them after their encounter with the mysterious hyper-dimensional Tertiarists. Hard sci-fi in the Morrison/Kirby vein, this is the 2nd of a three-issue introductory arc that takes the reader into an ongoing story with vicious political bite. Informed by its post-scarcity content, writer/artist Garry Mac is releasing this second issue completely free in digital CRM-free formats through independent label Unthank Comics.

GoodCopBadCop Casebook #2

Continuing Jim Alexander’s award winning modern crime twist on Jekyll and Hyde, where the ‘Good Cop’ and the ‘Bad Cop’ are the same person. The battle of wills intensifies as Detective Inspector Brian Fisher’s relationships with the police force and the criminal underworld spin dangerously out of control.

Can the ‘Good Cop’ survive when all the ‘Bad Cop’ wants to do is drag him deeper and deeper? Winner of the 2014 True Believers Award for Best British comic (black and white).

Hamsterpunk

Author/s: Ant Jones & Tanya Roberts (Published by Arcana)

Pages / Format: 114 pages / OGN

Pets, Bugs, Rock & Roll!

In a Dark Future an elite cyberfrog must go up against the EVIL Sterling Corp to rescue her hapless human owner and foil a nefarious scheme to brainwash the entire population of Knight City with 24hr adverts and infomercials! With the help of punk hamster Johnny Silverclaw, sniper-raven Gibson and bulldog bouncer Maxine – they’re here to save the city AND their TV careers, fighting against the maniacal corporate fighting fish Mr Sakana and his legion of baddies.

Get ready to kick bubble gum and chew some ass!

The Heavenly Chord

Author/s: Jon Lock, Nich Angell (New Dock Hall)

Pages/format/price: Graphic Novel

The worlds of Afterlife Inc. and 7STRING collide in the Heavenly Chord, the indie comics crossover event of the century! Collected together for the first time, the Heavenly Chord graphic novel includes the entire, explosive story along with a host of special features.

Hitsville UK Issue 3

Author/s: John Riordan & Dan Cox (New Dock Hall)

Pages/format/price: 36 pages / full colour / £4.50

The best, though possibly the only, musical-pop-art-soap-opera in comic book form. Issue 3 continues the tale of the weirdest record label in town. Published by Great Beast comics.

Hope For the Future issue 15

Author: Simon Perrins

Pages/format/price: 40 pages / US format / £3.00

In this thrilling PENULTIMATE issue, an implausible underground city is discovered and our gallant heroes face off against gun toting maniacs (pretty much), ninjas (kinda) and dragons (uh… ish). Also tons of plot gets explained, paranormal hilarity ensues and compared to previous issues, there’s 85% less sitting around talking, and 94% more getting kicked in the head.

A brand new horror anthology series featuring three dark twisted tales: A Late Night In Royston, Lost Souls and Partyman. A terrifying nasty take on old school horror which has themes of real life and features some of the best talent from Scotland.

Hound: Volume 1 – Protector

Author/s: Paul Bolger and Barry Devlin (TB Teepee)

Pages/format/price: 160 pages / hardback Ltd. Edition of 750 / £40

Before history there was legend, before legend there was myth, most are lost, only the extraordinary survive. The stories of Cu Cullan, a warrior of Ancient Ireland, are among the most vivid and extraordinary to reach through to our world: A boy forced to be a warrior; a fighter used and manipulated by capricious Celtic gods and ambitious tribal leaders alike; a champion prepared to singlehandedly defend his homeland; a loving husband beset by devious and jealous rivals, in a world intent on bringing him down.

How To Be A Superhero

Author/s: Ned Hartley, Gavin Mitchell (New Dock Hall)

Pages/format/price: 32 pages / US comic softcover / £4

Have you ever wanted to be a superhero? Then this is the comic for you! Eddie Mars is a small time con man who pretends that he used to be the superhero called the Knight Errant so he can teach classes in super heroics. But then the Knight Errant’s villains start turning up…

The Inexcusable PUNCHFACE!!! #1

Punchface is a bold new concept in the history of comics – a superhero who punches people in the face. Featuring brand new comics from some of the finest names in publishing and also by Ned Hartley. Learn what happened when Punchface couldn’t punch anyone, find out the secret of the Punching Commandos, discover his secret identity and look inside Punchface’s mind when he can’t sleep and needs to go to the loo.

Imaginary Gumbo and the Skeleton in the Garden

Charlie sneaks out to explore the town of Skeleton-on-sea WITHOUT the protection of her giant guardian knight, Gumbo. She finds a secret overgrown garden, and a lonely skeleton gazing out over the fence at the outside world. It hasn’t ever thought to remember how it got there, and so it doesn’t know to warn her about what dwells inside the well.

The Lion and the Unicorn, volume 0: The King is Dead, Part 3

Longlisted for the British Comics Awards Best Comic this is the latest instalment of the genre busting series. Influenced by the large format UK comics of the 80s and 90s, it has a unique visual style, incorporating photo montage, rotoscope, illustration, typography and graphic design. In part 3 we see The Lion and The unicorn of the title take a step closer to their final show down in the city of Thamesis Where the King’s funeral is held and a young, would be freedom fighter is lead down a dark path with the promise of revolution.

Look What I Drawed

Author/s: Paul Shinn (New Dock Hall)

Pages/format/price: 32 pages / A5 portrait, full colour / £4.00

Look What I Drawed… is the latest comic released by Paul Shinn, collecting a variety of his comic strips and stories from recent years. Featuring vampires, werewolves, fortune tellers, feline superheroes, the weather (he IS British!), Shakespearean penguins and more, it’s guaranteed* to put a smile on your face! (*Not an actual guarantee, but I sure hope it does).

Lucy The Octopus: Any Less The Freak

Author/s: Richy K. Chandler (New Dock Hall)

Pages/format/price: 24 pages plus cover / £3.50

A comic about an unpopular teenage girl who happens to be an octopus. Includes Lucy the Octopus Strips 78-120 plus bonus material. In this third printed collection, Lucy seeks support from her family, continues rehearsals with rock band Lamington Fuzz and ends up on a big adventure with someone she’d really rather not be with… Plus special WASP (Webcomic Artist Swap Project) Lucy strip with art by Rachael Smith (House Party, One Good Thing).

Maleficium

Author/s: EdieOP (TB Teepee)

Pages/format/price: 96/A4/£11.99

The story of Huxley Leighton-Lomax; an aspiring wizard who should know better than to feed the dark forces that lurk in the corners of his home. Will Huxley know enough magic when it’s up to him to save the day?

Man From Space

Join MAN FROM SPACE and his smart-mouthed sidekick Michael the Goldfish on their outer-space adventures in a far-flung and ridiculous galaxy, as they seek to find money to pay off Michael’s rampant gambling debts. Along the way they meet weird aliens wearing hot pants, teleporting robots, mustachioed midget wrestlers and a feast of outer-space crazies! All in the spirit of good old four-colour funnies!

Manly Boys and Comely Girls

Author/s: Gareth Brooks & Steve Tillotson (New Dock Hall)

Pages/format/price: 2 zines at 32 pages each, A5, B&W, £4.00 each or set for £7.00

Brooks & Tillotson offer invaluable advice to all Manly Boys and Comely Girls on everything from ‘How to Skin a Rabbit’, to “A Respectable Lady’s Guide to France’. Be prepared to be shocked and appalled.

Mephistos 5

Mephistos is a day in the life story of two neighbours one of whom is literally from Hell! Follow the life of a Junior Field Operative Soul Recruiter demon 3rd class made complicated by his neighbour, workmates and friends.

Meta Rising #1

The meta humans were wiped out in the last world war. Those who survived died or went underground. Twenty years on and the world still hasn’t recovered and Miles Allen has taken it upon himself to fix this. Will he succeed in creating a meta-human team to help him fix the problems of the new world? Or will he fail miserably?

Metroland #2

In Electric Dreams – Part Two, the focus turns to Kathy and the mysterious Five Years Cult, whilst in Dancing in the Dark, drawn by Rebecca Strickson, we take another trip back to the past to find out what happened the second time Ricky Stardust and Jessica Hill met.

Moon 3

Author/s: Dan Thompson and Steve Penfold (TB Teepee)

Pages/format/price: 28 page / comic book / £3.50

Arguably one of the most anticipated comic releases in indy circles, Moon continues the adventures of the satellite of the planet as he drops out of the sky in the early hours of the morning, puts on a suit, takes out a gun and fights ridiculous crime with his partner Shades Rodriguez, a homicidal traffic warden.

Bundles of Moon 1, 2 and 3 available for newcomers to the Moony action!

Mr Karma

Author/s: The Dual Amp Brothers (New Dock Hall)

Pages/format/price: 24 pages / Comic / £5 or 2 editions for £8

Mr Karma is London’s latest hero. A unique, mysterious character that blends the investigative elements of ‘Luther’ and the physicality of ‘The ‘Dark Knight’. Mr Karma’s moral path lies between the code of the streets and the law of the land. His secret power is Karma. In simple terms – you commit any violence against him you will suffer pain a thousand times more. Along with his group of trusted friends, Mr Karma has arrived to combat corruption, halt the rise of emerging criminals and seek the path to his own personal redemption. Intelligent investigator or violent vigilante, you decide!

My Thumb Has Gills

Author/s: jack Devereaux (New Dock Hall)

Pages/format/price: 50 pages, perfect bound, £8

In a jungle far away, Matilda prays and prepares to take on a great power. In a Mountainous desert mountain range, a young girl looks for a city in the cloud. And in a home library, a young woman has her bizarre reading habits exposed. My Thumb Has Gills is a collection of short comics and sketches from the past year!

Neverending #2

The Glasgow spy drama continues for the girl who never sleeps. Recovering from her ordeal last issue, Olivia becomes determined to protect her girlfriend and father – but how far is she willing to go? And who or what is Never? Featuring special guest cover artist Emma Vieceli! (Breaks, Vampire Academy, Avalon Chronicles)

Night Post

Author/s: Benjamin Read & Laura Trinder (New Dock Hall)

Pages/format/price: Hardcover / 48 pages / full colour / £12.99

Night Post is the story of the other mail service; the one you haven’t heard of, the one that starts work at midnight and delivers to all the creatures of the night. Whether ghost or ghoul, witch or werewolf, or just downright odd things with tentacles, they all have post and someone has to deliver it, no matter how terrifying it might be to do so.

OEUVRE: A Blind Detective Blake Mystery

Author/s: Michael Lomon (New Dock Hall)

Pages/format/price: 36 Pages / A4 / £4

Expecting to sample the delights of contemporary sculpture’s boldest and brightest, the international art glitterati descend upon London’s V&A museum. However, when the centre piece of the exhibition turns out to be the corpse of a missing artist, the private view becomes a hunt for a killer with the hands of a craftsman.

ORFUL COMICS VOL. 5

Author: Rob Cureton

Pages / Format / Price: 36pp / A5 stapled soft cover / £3

Celebrating its 6th birthday at this year’s festival, Orful Comics will be launching ORFUL COMICS VOL. 5, collecting all the auto-biographical strips from the past year. Featuring running, dentistry and motorsport, this looks like being the strongest issue yet. Free birthday hat with each purchase (while stocks last.)

Post Conatus (The life and times of Alex Hahn): Going Home

Author/s: Alex Hahn (TB Teepee)

Pages/format/price: A5 / Paperback / 40 pages, black and white / £3

A collection of autobiographical strips about Alex moving back to his parents’ house after five years away. Featuring the little annoyances of family life, workplace romances and introduces the Karma Penguin!

See the Professor get trapped on an airship in ‘Perish With Difficulty’; travel back in time to meet the Prof’s ancestor ‘Lord Elemental, Earl of Sussex’; join the Scarlet Woman in her triumphant return to London’s dingy streets; and meet a new hero, the steam-powered cyborg Locomotive, in the first part of a thrilling three-part tale.

With cover artwork by Charlie Adlard (The Walking Dead) and stories from some of the brightest stars in small press, it’s steampunk fun for all the family!

The Red Mask From Mars

Author/s: Vincent Hunt (TB Teepee)

Pages/format/price: 28pp / Colour / £3

Doug Stewart was a thrill-seeking astronaut until an encounter with an unidentified life form left him with amazing abilities, invulnerable to harm and a an alien permanently stuck to his face! Now whenever alien terror strikes he protects the public, the country and the world with his fists and The Red Mask From Mars!

RentQuest

Author: Sarah Graley

This is the story of two twenty somethings on a magical quest for rent money. Poppy is a freelance warrior on the search for an agent, while Noah, her housemate, helps her put together a portfolio. And can also turn into like, five different cats, of course.

Rosie and Jacinda: Demon Cloud

The teenage romantic comedy with a hint of menace! Yeah, yeah – it’s me, Jacinda. Fine, I admit it! Things have actually been looking up lately. School is still full of twonks of course, but having friends (and by friends I pretty well just mean Rosie) well, that certainly takes the edge off it. Rosie and Benjamin are getting on really well. Me and Aaron? Less so. As for that creep, Kyle, he’s taken his twonkishness to a whole new level! I’d better go – apparently Rosie’s got some big secret to share…

Solomon

Author/s: Carlos Pedro (Royal Armouries Hall)

Pages/format/price: 36 pages / comic book / £5.00

In a small coastal village a one eyed black cat wanders the rooftops owning the night. A young dock worker grants him fresh fish every morning until the day a group of fishermen bring a strange artifact in the middle of their shipment. What is the mystery behind the stone? What will it bring to the dock worker’s life? And why do the other cats seem to fear the one eyed black cat? Solomon blends suspense and modern fantasy in a tale of learning to face our losses and moving forward even when struck by the strangest challenges.

Something Wicked Issue 10

Author/s: The finest talents in the small press today! (New Dock Hall)

Pages/format/price: 48 Pages / A4 size / £4.00

SOMETHING WICKED reaches issue 10 in fine style! Behind the wraparound cover by Jon Taylor we present 10 strips filled with that much horror, that 10 out of 10 is the only score possible! Caution is recommended as you read this issue. 48 pages for only £4.00

A Song For My Brother

Author/s: Maria Stanislav/Emmi Bat (Royal Armouries Hall)

Pages/format/price: 45 / B&W / £5

To save the life of his sister, N’iel broke the sacred law of their race and condemned both her and himself to exile. When N’iel succumbs to a fatal disease, it is L’iume’s turn to see how far she will go in saving her brother.

Soundimals

Author/s: James Chapman (New Dock Hall)

Pages/Format/Price: 32 pages / £5

An illustrated guide to animal sounds in other languages. While we say dogs go ‘woof’ and pigs go ‘oink’ in English, they make a lot of other fun sounds around the world. Romanian dogs go “ham”, Japanese pigs go “buu” and Swedish mice go “pip-pip”.

Space Captain: Captain of Space

The first issue of an new ongoing series following the life of Space Captain.

Our story starts with Space Captain realising he’s stranded on a distant planet, and he has to make his way back home. Of course it’s never that easy, and along the way elements of his past will come to light and many enemies will come out of the woodwork.

Spectre Show

Author/s: Shaun Avery, David Broughton (New Dock Hall)

Pages/format/price: 32 pages, A4, £3

Remember where you were the day the gates to the afterlife collapsed? The day humanity discovered that the spirits of the dead could possess their bodies at will, and that those spirits were very, very angry? No? Well, we can’t say we blame you for blocking it out of your mind… all that murder, torment and carnage.

Let writer Shaun Avery and artist David Broughton and a psychotic TV host called Ted E. Scare be your memory. But be warned – what you discover might scar you, and there’ll be no going back…

Ruxby Bear and Toyburg PD investigate cases of violence, corruption and murder in a city of toys. Torsobear is a cartoon noir comic book, about toy-on-toy crime in a fantastic city of playthings, created by Brett Uren and showcasing the fantastic talents of indie creators, both known and as yet unknown.

Tortured Life

Richard can see how you’re going to die. And he hates it. Cursed with visions of death, he decides to take his own life… but instead finds himself plunged into a conspiracy of murder, shadowy cults and a quest for immortality.

Treehouse #4

Authors: Treehouse Collective (Royal Armouries Hall)

Pages/Format/Price: 30 pages / US Standard (17x26cm) / £3.00

Treehouse #4 explores the darker side, with horror-themed comics from the Treehouse members. Treehouse is a Dundee-based collective and self-published anthology comic, featuring artists from throughout Scotland.

Vivacity

Jessica Martin specialises in comics about the Golden Age of Hollywood. Her debut comic “It Girl”, about the turbulent life of screen star Clara Bow was launched at Thought Bubble last year and continues to enjoy great success. This year she brings another ‘Hollywood Heroine’ to the comics medium with “Vivacity”. From her early days as a young society wife who dreams of becoming an actress, to her passionate affair with the world’s leading classical actor…it seemed nothing and no-one could stop Vivien Leigh in her determination to play the most coveted role in film history..Scarlett O’Hara. “Vivacity” is a graphic vignette starring the legendary Vivien Leigh. Not just for film fans but anyone who likes their protagonist strong and female!

You’d Start With The Page…

The second mini book from Seeing Poetry: Poetry in words and comics. The poem ‘You’d start with the page..’ by Clare Shaw from the collection Head On (Bloodaxe Books, 2012) has been illustrated in colour by Louise Crosby. The book ‘plays’ on the form of the poem and way that Clare performs it. Hence the shape of the book, it’s length and the inclusion of blank and wordless pages. If you haven’t read a poem for a long time – the start here. The book has been funded by Arts Council, England.

Zarjaz 22

Behind the superb cover by PJ Holden & Steven Denton featuring Chopper, following on from the strip which features art by Jake Lynch (with special thanks to Pye-01) we present 8 tales charged with so much Thrill-power it caused the seasons to slide! 48 pages for the amazing price of £3.00.